Tool and method for cutting and shaping tubing



Nov. 17, 1964 G. H. ARTHUR 3, 7,07

TOOL. AND METHOD FOR CUTTING AND SHAPING TUBING Filed March 24, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l 50 ,59 54 64\E r 60 G Hg4 I8 20 Q 8 12 \,/4 22 ,46

a0 24 Glen H Arthur 32 INVENTOR.

Mm BY ywayfi amfig BLAJV G. H. ARTHUR Nov. 17, 1964 TOOL AND METHOD FOR CUTTING AND SHAPING TUBING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24, 1960 w M r A H n UNL. A L, w

Nov. 17, 1964 G. H. ARTHUR 3, 57, 7

TOOL AND METHOD FOR CUTTING AND SHAPING TUBING Filed March 24, 1960 a Sheets-Sheet :5

IIIII Glen H. Arthur 1 N VEN TOR. BY Q1... a052 WWW 3m United States Patent 3,157,076 TOOL AND METHQD EUR (IUTTWG AND SHAPING TUBING Glen H. Arthur, R0. Box 1454, Alice, Tex. Fiied Mar. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 17,374 Qlaims. (Cl. 82--4)- The primary object of this invention is to provide a tool and a method for trimming the exterior surface of a tubing joint both by reducing an external diameter and also by bevelling the shoulders at either or both ends of the joint.

A string of tubing is customarily'inserted in a well casing within a well bore in order to produce the desired fluids from the well. in many wells, it is desired to simultaneously produce fiuid from different levels or producing horizons of the well and this requires the presence of a plurality of strings of tubing. Inasmuch as the space within a well casing is very restricted in size, it is evident that the provision of a plurality of strings of tubing for the multiple producing from a Well bore imposes a serious problem with regard to the inserting of or the removal of a. string of tubing'from a well casing. Tubing strings customarily consist of a series of sections of tubing which are connected at their ends by unions or tubing joints. These joints constitute short sections of pipe which are necessarily of a greater diameter than that of the adjacent string of tubing in order to embrace these adjacent ends and securely unite them together. When the space within a well casing is crowded with the introduction of a plurality of strings of tubing therein, it is evident that the lowering of a further string of tubing therein will frequently cause the shoulder at the bottom end of a tubing joint to catch, at least momentarily upon the adjacent top shoulder of another tubing joint. When the introduced string of tubing is finally pulled from the stationary tubing, a very heavy jar and strain is imparted to the tubing string being introduced and to the rigging for supporting the same. Further, when it is desired to removea string of tubing the engagement of the upper shoulder on a tubing joint with the under shoulder of a stationary tubing string produces a similar problem.

It is the primary purpose of this invention therefore to provide a device whereby this problem can be alleviated to a large extent if not entirely overcomeby either (1) reducing the exterior diameter of the tubing joint by trim rning the same or (2) bevelling the top or bottom shoulders at their outer edges of the tubing joint or both; or (3) combining both of these trimming actions. A tubing joint which is reduced in diameter and/or one which is bevelled at its shoulder or shoulders obviously is much easier to introduce into or remove from a well bore which is already crowded with other strings of tubing therein.

It is therefore the primary purpose of the invention to provide a tool and a process whereby the desired trimming of the exterior surface of a tubing joint may be readily and easily effected. 7

A further object of this invention is to provide a tool and a method whereby a mandrel may be secured and anchored inside a tubing joint. which is to be trimmed, and a cutter head'may be mounted upon the mandrel and introduced over the tubing joint so that upon rotation and axial movement of the cutter head, the cutting elements thereof will trim the exterior surface of the tubing joint either upon the cylindrical outer surface of the same, or bevel either or both ends of the same, or both operations may be performed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tool in accordance with the preceding objects wherein a mandrel is provided with means for securely anchoring the same in a tubing joint; a cutter head is threadedly ice engaged upon the end of a mandrel so that the rotation of the cutter head will advance it both rotationally and axially along the mandrel; together with cutter means carried by the cutter head for effecting either a trimming of the exterior cylindrical surface of the tool joint or a bevelling of either or both of the shoulders thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tool in accordance with the preceding objects having improved means for quickly and securely anchoring the tool to a tubing joint which is to be trimmed by the tool.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View through a trimming tool for tubing joints in accordance with this invention, a part of the mandrel of the tool being shown in elevation with parts broken away and shown in vertical section;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the tool of FIG URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view, parts being broken away, shown in vertical central section and parts in elevation of the tool in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detailed view in vertical section of the lower portion of the mandrel of the tool showing the latter positioned in a tubing joint and the anchoring means for securing thezmandrel to the tubing joint;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the anchoring means engaged With the tubing joint for anchoring the mandrel thereto;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a view in vertical central section through the cutter head of the tool and the upper portion of the tubing joint showing the cutters of the tool in position to begin reducing the cylindrical exterior diameter of the tubing joint;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but showing the position of the tools after the diameter reducing operation has been about half completed;

FIGURE 9 is a View similar to FIGURE 7 but showing the completion of the diameter reducing operation and showing the beginning of the shoulder bevelling operation of the tool; and

FIGURE 10 is a view in elevation showing the completed trimmed tubing joint in full lines and showing in dotted lines the original dimensions of the tool joint before the trimming operation thereon.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2 it will be observed that the trimming tool for tubing joints of this invendon is designated generally by the numeral 10 and the same consists of a mandrel 12 by which the tool is anchored to the tubing joint indicated by the numeral 14 throughout the drawings, a cutter head 16 which is movably mounted upon the mandrel 12 together with an adjusting rod 18 which extends through the cutter head and through the mandrel and operates anchoring means by which the mandrel is secured in the tubing joint.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 it will be seen that the mandrel 12 consists of a hollow tube having a longitudinal axial bore 24) extending therethrough from end to end, which bore at its lower portion is diametrically enlarged and is internally threaded as at 22. At the extreme lower end of the bore 20 the same is diametrically enlarged further as at 24 to provide thereby a chamber or recess for receiving the anchoring means of this invention. Conveniently, the bore 20 may be extended from the upper end of the mandrel to the lower 3 end thereof, being counterbored to provide the chamber 24 and being further counterb'ored to provide the threaded enlargement 22 as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. At its lowermost end, the chamber of the enlarged bore 24 may be closed as by a closure plug 26.

A plurality of radially extending transverse bores 38 extend through the lower end of the mandrel 12 and intersect the enlarged counterbore 24 and receive slidably therein a plurality 'of anchor pins 32 having collars or shoulders 34 thereon for engagement by compression springs 36 disposed between these collars and the mandrel in order to yieldingly urge these anchor pins into their inward or retracted positions.

The adjusting means 18 consists of an adjusting rod 40 and is loosely received through the bore 20 of the mandrel and at its lower end is provided with an internally threaded portion 42 engaged in the threaded portion 22. The upper end of the adjusting rod is provided with a handle or crank 44 so that rotation may be imparted to the same and thus cause the adjusting rod to move downwardly or upwardly in the mandrel as a result of this rotation and its previously mentioned threaded engagement with the mandrel. At the extreme lower end of the adjusting rod there is provided an adjusting member in the form of a conical element or cam element which is adapted to be received between the adjacent beveled ends of the anchor pins 32 as shown in FIGURE 6 and thus radially advance or extend the anchor pins from the mandrel from the retracted position shown in FIGURE 4 to the extended position shown in FIGURE 5 at which last position the pins will press into the inner walls of the tubing joint and thus securely and fixedly anchor the mandrel to the tubing joint.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the upper end of the mandrel is diametrically enlarged and is externally threaded as at 50. The cutter head 16 consists of a diametrically reduced upper neck portion 52 and a diametrically enlarged lower sleeve portion or sleeve 54. An axial passage extends entirely through the cutter head 16 this passage consisting of a smooth axial bore in the upper portion or neck of the tool holder ltd, then opens into a diametrically enlarged internally threaded middle portion 58 and finally terminates at the lower end of the tool holder in a bore of the maximum daimeter and constituting a smooth bore or chamber as at 59. The previously mentioned externally threaded enlargement of the mandrel is engaged in the internally threaded bore 58 at the midportion of the passage so that when the mandrel is anchored in place, and the tool holder is threaded upon the extremity 50 of the mandrel the tool holder may be rotated and moved axially along the mandrel by suitable means, not shown. Further, the adjusting rod 13 previously mentioned extends entirely through the neck portion 52 of the tool holder and then into and through the longitudinal bore 26 previously mentioned of the mandrel so that by means of a handle 44 upon its exterior, the adjusting rod may be readily rotated to effect the engagement of or the releasing of the anchor pins.

The sleeve 54 of the cutter head has a plurality of sets of cutter bits adjustably and releasably carried thereby. These preferably consist of a lower set of bits extending perpendicularly of the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and of the tool holder and having cutting tips 62 upon the inner ends. These bits are retained in transverse bores 64 formed in the lower portion of the sleeve 54 and into the chamber 59, suitable setscrews 66 serving to lock these bits in their adjusted position. The position of these bits is such that, as will be apparent from a consideration of FIGURES 7 and 8, they may be adjusted inwardly so that when the sleeve 54 is inserted over the tubing joint 14 as shown in FIGURE 7, rotation of the tubing joint will by virtue of threaded connection between the bore 58 and the enlargement 50 of the stationary mandrel cause the tubing joint to rotate and move downwardly along the mandrel, thus causing the points 62 of more the tool bits to trim the exterior diameter of the tubing joint in the manner shown by comparison of FIGURES 7 and 8.

Thus, as the tool holder is moved downwardly the full length of the joint the external diameter of the latter will be trimmed and diametrically reduced, from the full line diameter shown in dotted lines at 70 in FIGURE 10 to the finished or trimmed reduced diameter shown at 72 therein.

T he tool holder includes a second or upper set of tool bits shown at 80, these bits being slidingly and guidingly received in inclined guiding bores 81 extending through the sleeve 54 of the tool holder and having their cutting tips 84 extending into the interior of the sleeve and at angle to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and of the tubing joint 14. Setscrews as at 32 serve to lock the tool bits Sal in properly adjusted position. The installation of these tool bits is such that as the tool holder is continued to cause the travel downwardly by rotating the same upon the mandrel, the upper set of bits will, as shown in FIGURE 9, engage the flat upper surface of the tubing joint at the outer edge thereof and impart a bevel as at M thereto. The spacing between the two sets of bits may be such as to cause the beginning of the bevelling operation to be initiated upon the completion of the diameter reducing or trimming operation. Alternatively, they may be so spaced as to cause the bevelling operation to begin just prior to the finishing of the diameter releasing operation. A. reverse positioning of the tubing joint in the tool will enable a reverse bevel to be cut upon the other end of the joint.

It will thus be observed that by this tool there is provided a means and a process whereby a stationary mandrel may be anchored to the interior of a tubing joint; the tool holder may be threaded upon the end of the mandrel and by being rotated thereon will be moved both rotationally and longitudinally of the mandrel to cause the cutter bits to effect the joint trimming and bevelling operations previously described.

It will be observed that the adjusting rod 40 is of such length that after the mandrel has been placed within the tubing joint, and the tool holder moved to the upper part of the adjusting rod just below the handle or crank 44 thereof, the tool sleeve may be inserted over the enlargement 50 of the mandrel and threaded thereon. Thereupon the adjusting rod 18 may be rotated to cause the anchoring means to securely loclr the mandrel to the joint, whereupon further rotation of the tool holder, will cause the trimming operation previously mentioned.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tool for trimming the exterior surface of a tubing joint comprising a mandrel for insertion in a tubing joint to be trimmed, anchor means for fixedly securing said mandrel to the interior of a tubing joint, a sleeve spaced from and surrounding said mandrel for embracing a tubing joint, connecting means threadedly connecting said sleeve and one end of said mandrel for rotary and axial movement of the former on the latter, cutters mounted on said sleeve and extending into the interior thereoi for cutting the exterior surface of a tubing joint disposed between said mandrel and sleeve upon rotation of the latter upon said mandrel, said mandrel having an axial bore therein, said anchor means including an adjusting rod engaged in said bore, transverse bores in said mandrel intersecting said axial bore, anchor pins slidable in said transverse bores and radially extensible from said mandrel an actuating member connecting said adjusting rods to said anchor pins and operable to project the latter from said mandrel into anchoring engagement with a tubing joint in which said mandrel is disposed.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said adjusting rod is threadedly engaged in said axial bore.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said anchor pins have cam surfaces thereon, said actuating member comprising a conical element on said adjusting rod and engaging said cam surfaces.

4. The combination of claim 3 including springs inside said mandrel engaging said anchor pins and yieldingly urging them inwardly of said mandrel.

5. A tool for trimming the exterior surface of a tubing joint comprising a mandrel for insertion in a tubing joint to be trimmed, anchor means for fixedly securing said mandrel to the interior of a tubing joint, a sleeve spaced from and surrounding said mandrel for embracing a tubing joint, connecting means threadedly connecting said sleeve and one end of said mandrel for rotary and axial movement of the former on the latter, cutters mounted on said sleeve and extending into the interior thereof for cutting the exterior surface of a tubing joint disposed between said mandrel and sleeve upon rotation of the latter upon said mandrel, said sleeve having a bore therein with a smooth upper portion through which said adjusting rod extends, said bore having a diametrically enlarged and internally threaded mid-portion and a smooth lower bore of maximum internal diameter, said mandrel having a diametrically enlarged externally threaded upper portion engaged in said internally threaded mid-portion whereby when said mandrel is anchored in a tubing joint, rotation of said sleeve Will cause the latter and the cutters carried thereby to both rotate about and advance axially along said mandrel, said mandrel having a longitudinal bore therethrough, said anchor means including an adjusting rod slidably and rotatably guided in said mandrel bore, said mandrel bore and said adjusting rod having a screw threaded engagement at their lower ends, transverse bores in said mandrel intersecting said longitudinal bore, anchor pins slidable in said transvere bores and extensible from said mandrel for anchoring engagement in a tubing joint in which said mandrel is disposed, an actuating member on said adjusting rod engaging said anchor pins for effecting extending movement of the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Clark Sept. 1, 1868 Greenwood Oct. 15, 1940 Thompson May 22, 1956 

1. A TOOL FOR TRIMMING THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF A TUBING JOINT COMPRISING A MANDREL FOR INSERTION IN A TUBING JOINT TO BE TRIMMED, ANCHOR MEANS FOR FIXEDLY SECURING SAID MANDREL TO THE INTERIOR OF A TUBING JOINT, A SLEEVE SPACED FROM AND SURROUNDING SAID MANDREL FOR EMBRACING A TUBING JOINT, CONNECTING MEANS THREADEDLY CONNECTING SAID SLEEVE AND ONE END OF SAID MANDREL FOR ROTARY AND AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE FORMER ON THE LATTER, CUTTERS MOUNTED ON SAID SLEEVE AND EXTENDING INTO THE INTERIOR THEREOF FOR CUTTING THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF A TUBING JOINT DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID MANDREL AND SLEEVE UPON ROTATION OF THE LATTER UPON SAID MANDREL, SAID MANDREL HAVING AN AXIAL BORE THEREIN, SAID ANCHOR MEANS INCLUDING AN ADJUSTING ROD ENGAGED IN SAID BORE, TRANSVERSE BORES IN SAID MANDREL INTERSECTING SAID AXIAL BORE, ANCHOR PINS SLIDABLE IN SAID TRANSVERSE BORES AND RADIALLY EXTENSIBLE FROM SAID MANDREL AN ACTUATING MEMBER CONNECTING SAID ADJUSTING RODS TO SAID ANCHOR PINS AND OPERABLE TO PROJECT THE LATTER FROM SAID MANDREL INTO ANCHORING ENGAGEMENT WITH A TUBING JOINT IN WHICH SAID MANDREL IS DISPOSED. 